Orders

Omizutori (Shunie)

Name: Omizutori (Shunie)
Address: 406-1 Zōshichō, Nara, 630-8587, Japan
Rating: 4.6

4.6 (200)・Tourist Attraction・Place Of Worship・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Omizutori, also known as the Water-Drawing Festival, is one of Japan's oldest and most spectacular Buddhist ceremonies. Held annually in early March at the historic Todai-ji Temple in Nara, this event has been celebrated for over 1,250 years, drawing crowds from across Japan and around the world.

The highlight of Omizutori is the dramatic and awe-inspiring fire ceremony, where massive torches, some weighing over 50 kilograms and measuring up to 8 meters long, are carried by monks up the temple's balcony. As the torches are paraded around and their embers cascade down in a shower of sparks, it is believed that these sparks cleanse the spectators from sin and impurities. The event symbolizes the arrival of spring and is thought to purify the temple and its visitors, ushering in a new year of renewal and growth.

On the final night of the festival, a quieter but equally significant ritual takes place, where sacred water is drawn from a well within the temple grounds. This water is said to have miraculous properties, ensuring good health and a long life for those who drink it.

Hours:

7:00 PM (March 1-11)

7:30 PM (March 12)

7:00 PM (March 13)

6:30 PM (March 14)

Closed:

Annually

Available:

Once a year

Minimum Age:

All Ages are welcome

Fees:

No Admission fee

Hours

Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Sunday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Phone

+81 742-22-5511

Website

www.todaiji.or.jp

The area

Address

406-1 Zōshichō, Nara, 630-8587, Japan

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What other travelers are saying about Omizutori (Shunie)

What a unique and impressive place to visit. Just the walk up to the temple humbled you due to it immense size. It was busy but not too busy, mainly thanks to the designated walking route and space to walk the path. The Buddha is impressive and huge. We really much appreciated visited this place. Would definitely visit it again.

Mark G

May 10, 2025

Unique temple with giant Buddha! We came on a weekday midday in April and the line was long so we almost didn’t go but I’m so glad we waited! It took about 20 minutes to get in. I was not expecting the giant Buddha - it filled up the entire temple! It was over 150 feet tall and very impressive. We spent about 20 minutes walking around the temple and the surrounding garden. We elected not to do the museum since it was so crowded. Recommend buying tickets in advance if that’s possible to skip the line.

Elaine Burbank

May 2, 2025

This was probably one of my favourite temples we went to, could not get over the size of the statues inside, photos do not do it justice! As well as the temple there is lots more to see. Unfortunately it rained quite a lot on the day we went, however we still had the best time!!!

Elkie Plant

May 8, 2025

This temple with the 45 m bronze Buddha is a must visit in Nara. The wood gate is original from the 8th century as is the bronze Buddha. The wood buildings are massive and a wonder of woodwork. There were lots of people here but we still got a good view of the wonderful Buddha image. An awe inspiring place due to the scale of the structures.

S L Chong

Apr 18, 2025

The place is indeed very calm and valuable to visit. Visitors should be cautious around the deer, as they can become aggressive if you have food in hand. This location beautifully showcases ancient Japanese carpentry skills, making it an amazing place to explore. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are truly remarkable!